Managing Director

Managing Director
Defence | Aerospace | Advanced Technology | R&D | Government Programmes

Salisbury - UK Travel required
Competitive Salary

The Opportunity

Our client is an innovative technology company developing advanced solutions across defence, aerospace, security and autonomous systems. With an established international presence, they are now investing heavily in growing their UK operation and are looking to appoint a commercially focused Managing Director to lead the next phase of expansion.

This is an opportunity to build and lead a UK business operating at the forefront of defence innovation, working with government organisations, prime contractors and industry partners to deliver cutting-edge technologies from concept through to deployment.

The successful individual will be responsible for driving business growth, developing strategic partnerships, winning new programmes and building a high-performing engineering organisation capable of delivering complex technology solutions.

The Role

As Managing Director, you will take full responsibility for the UK business, leading both its commercial growth and operational delivery.

Working closely with the executive leadership team, you'll develop the UK strategy, identify new market opportunities, strengthen customer relationships and oversee the successful delivery of advanced engineering programmes across defence, aerospace and government sectors.

This role combines strategic leadership, business development, programme oversight and operational management.

Key Responsibilities:

- Develop and execute the long-term growth strategy for the UK business.
- Build relationships across the UK Defence, Aerospace and Government sectors.
- Identify and secure new business opportunities with organisations including MOD, Dstl, DASA, Innovate UK, UK Space Agency, ESA and major defence primes.
- Lead the preparation of winning technical and commercial proposals.
- Oversee the successful delivery of complex customer-funded R&D programmes.
- Provide leadership across multidisciplinary engineering and programme teams.
Recruit, develop and mentor future leaders as the business grows.
- Manage operational performance, budgets, forecasting and resource planning.
- Ensure compliance with quality, export control, regulatory and security requirements.
- Represent the company at customer meetings, industry events and conferences.
- Build a culture centred around innovation, collaboration and technical excellence.

What We're Looking For:

We're interested in speaking with senior leaders who have experience growing technology-focused businesses within defence, aerospace or security environments.

You'll be commercially minded, technically credible and comfortable operating at executive level with customers, government stakeholders and industry partners.

Essential Experience:

- Senior leadership experience within Defence, Aerospace, Security or Advanced Technology.
- Proven success winning government-funded programmes and commercial contracts.
- Strong understanding of the UK defence landscape and procurement process.
- Experience working with organisations such as MOD, Dstl, DASA, Innovate UK, UK Space Agency or equivalent.
- Demonstrable experience leading complex engineering or technology programmes.
- Strong commercial and financial management skills.
- Experience building, developing and leading high-performing technical teams.
- Excellent stakeholder management, communication and negotiation skills.
- Eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance.

Highly Desirable:

- Experience within AI, Robotics, Autonomous Systems, Electronic Warfare, Sensors, Embedded Systems or Defence Technology.
- Experience leading innovation or R&D organisations.
- Existing network across UK Government, Defence Primes and Technology Partners.
- Experience growing businesses from SME through to scale-up.
- Experience managing P&L responsibility.

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to join an ambitious technology business at a pivotal stage of growth and genuinely shape its future.

You'll have the autonomy to build the UK organisation, influence strategy, establish long-term partnerships and play a key role in delivering technologies that will support future defence and security capability.

If you're looking for an executive leadership opportunity where you can combine commercial growth, innovation and strategic delivery, we'd love to hear from you
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed